JOHOR BARU: The Education Ministry is hoping for extra allocation in the upcoming revised Budget 2023 to ensure “poor” schools will not be left behind, says Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
She said the additional funds would help the ministry in managing and maintaining such schools across the country.
“This is to ensure that there are no schools left behind, not only in Peninsular Malaysia, but also in Sabah and Sarawak.
“It is our priority,” she told reporters after a visit to SK (P) Bandar Tinggi here yesterday
During the visit, Fadhlina announced an allocation of RM500,000 to the school to repair its old building, which is about 98 years.
According to her, there would be more funds channelled to the ministry through the national budget each year.
“The ministry uses the additional allocation for salaries or emoluments while the rest of it is for development.
“So we always look at the additional allocation from time to time where it can be used for managing and maintaining schools,” she said.
In Budget 2022, the ministry received the largest allocation amounting to RM52.6bil.
Touching on underfunded schools, she said there were more than 300 of such schools throughout Malaysia with 12 of them in Johor.
“The ministry will also look at the maintenance and improvement of teachers’ quarters to ensure their well-being,” she added.
The revised Budget 2023 is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 24.
